{"id":481578,"date":"2021-05-07T13:05:58","date_gmt":"2021-05-07T17:05:58","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=481578"},"modified":"2021-05-07T13:06:00","modified_gmt":"2021-05-07T17:06:00","slug":"california-may-soften-gun-crime-laws-citing-impact-on-people-of-color","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/california-may-soften-gun-crime-laws-citing-impact-on-people-of-color\/","title":{"rendered":"California May Soften Gun Crime Laws, Citing Impact On People Of Color"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">24<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcalifornia-may-soften-gun-crime-laws-citing-impact-on-people-of-color%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=481578&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><div><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Gun-Crimes.jpg?w=1200&#038;h=800&#038;ixlib=react-9.0.3\" class=\"ff-og-image-inserted\"  style=\"display:none\"><\/div>\n<p><span>A California state assembly committee gave its stamp of approval on April 27 to legislation that would significantly soften sentences for people convicted of some firearm offenses, with proponents saying laws against using guns in the commission of crimes disproportionately affect people of color.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The Assembly Public Safety Committee voted 6-2 to approve the <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/leginfo.legislature.ca.gov\/faces\/billVersionsCompareClient.xhtml?bill_id=202120220AB1509\"><span>Anti-Racism Sentencing Reform Act,<\/span><\/a>\u00a0though <span>the proposal still has several hurdles to clear before becoming law.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Assemblyman Alex Lee\u2019s office said he agreed to co-sponsor the bill \u201cto correct decades of harm done to communities of color.\u201d Staffers recently created a \u201cfact sheet\u201d that argues imposing stiffer sentencing laws added on to the charge of an underlying offense drives up incarceration rates, crowds prisons, and serves as \u201ca legal monument to racism.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cIf a gun is used during a violent felony offense \u2013 such as a robbery \u2013 California\u2019s \u201810-20-Life\u2019 gun enhancement applies,\u201d it said. \u201cA 10-year enhancement is available for any use of a gun, which is increased to 20 years if the gun is discharged, and to 25-to-life if great bodily injury or death occurs.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>AB 1509, as the bill is known, would eliminate the use of most gun enhancements and significantly reduce the others, modifying them from 10-20-life to 1-2-3 years.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Eric Siddall, vice president of the Association of Deputy District Attorneys of Los Angeles County (ADDA), said the proposal \u201cis devoid of reality,\u201d saying such a reduction would equate to \u201can inconsequential sentence.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cIn essence, the bill decriminalizes the use of a firearm in California for the most severe, most violent felonies,\u201d Siddall told The Daily Wire. \u201cWhat this bill would do is encourage violent criminals to use guns during their crime because the penalty is so insignificant.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Its passage would be retroactive, meaning some prisoners currently incarcerated on firearm enhancement charges could be released. However, Lee\u2019s office said the bill limits retroactivity based on the crime, and not everyone would be eligible for resentencing.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>According to the California Department of Corrections and Rehabilitation, approximately 40,000 inmates in custody, or about 40% of the prison population, have a firearm enhancement attached to their sentences.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Lee, a 25-year-old progressive Democrat from San Jose, describes himself as \u201cthe first Gen Z, youngest Asian American, and first bisexual state legislator in California history.\u201d He was living with his mother last November when he beat his Republican opponent in a landslide. Lee was endorsed by Bernie Sanders and worked part-time for an app-based delivery service to generate income during the campaign. His <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.votealexlee.com\/my-priorities.html\"><span>priorities<\/span><\/a><span> emphasized \u201cfighting for the marginalized\u201d but did not mention criminal justice reform.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"4.6732673267327\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Pokemon Go to the Polls <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/nF4PwkcapB\">pic.twitter.com\/nF4PwkcapB<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Alex Lee \u674e\u5929\u660e (@alex_lee) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/alex_lee\/status\/1323330785626124288?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">November 2, 2020<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Lee introduced AB 1509 in February. Four fellow Democrats signed on as co-authors, including\u00a0 Assemblymembers Wendy Carrillo (Los Angeles), Ash Kalra (San Jose), Mark Stone (Monterey Bay), and Sen. Scott Weiner (San Francisco).\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>During the committee meeting last week, Lee thanked \u201cthe over 370 incarcerated individuals who have written in support.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Here is a look at four advocacy groups and co-sponsors that, according to Lee\u2019s office, played an extensive role in drafting AB 1509 and remain partners in considering any amendments.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Initiate Justice<\/b><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=ZfzucjuWP0k\"><span>According<\/span><\/a><span> to its co-founders, Initiate Justice was established \u201cto activate the political power of people in prison, formerly incarcerated people, and their loved ones.\u201d The organization claims more than 19,000 members inside California state prisons, including more than 150 organizers mobilizing inmates to change laws. Initiate Justice also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.gofundme.com\/f\/ij3rdbirthday?utm_campaign=p_cp_url&#038;utm_medium=os&#038;utm_source=customer\"><span>trains<\/span><\/a><span> organizers on the outside to \u201cbuild our collective power and make our presence felt with legislators\u201d through its Institute of Impacted Leaders initiative.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"11.380062305296\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">(1\/4) This week we officially launched our 2021 Institute of Impacted Leaders Spring cohorts! Our Spring cohorts are taking place virtually and consist of people from the San Fernando Valley, Fresno, Orange County, and South Bay\/Long Beach! <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/pvxqk9Y94t\">pic.twitter.com\/pvxqk9Y94t<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Initiate Justice (@InitiateJustice) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/InitiateJustice\/status\/1372996180477571072?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 19, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>The group\u2019s website highlights \u201cprison abolition\u201d as a featured <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.initiatejustice.org\/project\/prison-abolition\/\"><span>project<\/span><\/a><span> and has received at least $750,000 from two San Francisco-based grantmakers: the Libra Foundation and Rosenberg Foundation.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Taina Vargas-Edmond, Initiate Justice\u2019s co-founder and executive director, was the executive chair of a committee that pushed a successful statewide ballot measure last year that restored voting rights to felons who have completed their prison terms. Initiate Justice was the lead organization on the Yes on 17 campaign and mobilized outside organizers on parole to direct communication efforts. The drive was also supported by the other activist groups working with Lee to reduce gun crimes punishment.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cThe current approach of piling enhancements on top of convictions is an antiquated practice that needs to be rooted out from the core of California\u2019s criminal legal system,\u201d said Vargas-Edmond, who describes herself as an abolitionist and intersectional feminist.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Re:Store Justice<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Established inside San Quentin State Prison, Re:Store Justice was created \u201cto re-imagine our justice system.\u201d It works \u201cto end life and extreme sentences by changing the way society and the carceral system responds to violence and harm.\u201d The group <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.theguardian.com\/us-news\/2019\/apr\/22\/prisoners-nipsey-hussle-cycles-of-violence-lancaster\"><span>promotes<\/span><\/a><span> restorative justice education sessions within prisons, bringing together homicide victims\u2019 families with people incarcerated for murder.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Executive Director Adnan Khan co-founded the organization while incarcerated at San Quentin. He describes sentencing enhancements as \u201cracist\u201d and \u201cabusive.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cSentencing Black, Brown and people of color to 10 additional years, or 20 additional years, or life in prison in addition to the sentence is excessive and unreasonable. We have to undo mass incarceration and the abuse we\u2019ve normalized,\u201d said Khan. \u201cWe are grateful for Assemblymember Lee leading transformative change.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The organization has publicized progressive organizing actions that seek to decarcerate and close California prisons.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"10.739644970414\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">\ud83d\udce3 CALL TO ACTION *TODAY* MONDAY MAY 3RD @ 2:30PM<\/p>\n<p>Call-in to the hearing and give LIVE public comment. Voice our demand to <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/CloseCAPrisons?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#CloseCAPrisons<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/ShutItDown?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#ShutItDown<\/a> and <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/LetThemGo?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#LetThemGo<\/a><\/p>\n<p>Toolkit for Written and Public comment, instructions &#038; talking points here:<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/TQmLAp8zF0\">https:\/\/t.co\/TQmLAp8zF0<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/uIT88a2qCc\">pic.twitter.com\/uIT88a2qCc<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Re:Store Justice (@restore_CAL) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/restore_CAL\/status\/1389253898674704389?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">May 3, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>LaNeisha Edwards, program director at Re:Store Justice, served as a member of Los Angeles County District Attorney George Gasc\u00f3n\u2019s transition team and is part of his office\u2019s Crime Victims Advisory Board.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>Patty Quillin, the wife of Netflix co-founder and CEO Reed Hastings, sits on the board of directors. She was also a major donor to the Yes on 17 campaign and funded drives supporting Gasc\u00f3n\u2019s candidacy during that same election cycle.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Essie Justice Group<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Made up of women with incarcerated loved ones, the Essie Justice Group <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/essiejusticegroup.org\/mission\/\"><span>boasts<\/span><\/a><span> about \u201cadvancing demands that would bring about a reality where prisons are abolished and systems of healing, accountability, and wellness are the norm.\u201d The organization also <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.instagram.com\/p\/CNk3SIphw_r\/\"><span>pushes<\/span><\/a><span> for the dismantling of policing.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cWe are building a membership of fierce advocates for race and gender justice \u2013 including Black and Latinx women, formerly and currently incarcerated women, transgender women, and gender non-conforming people,\u201d Essie\u2019s website says.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"7.97583081571\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">89% of people in CA prisons with gun enhancements are people of color \u2013 meaning 9 out 10 people who have extra time added to their sentence because of a gun are people of color. That is what systemic racism looks like. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/EndEnhancements?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#EndEnhancements<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SupportAB1509?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SupportAB1509<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/NmOvKq246J\">https:\/\/t.co\/NmOvKq246J<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 Essie Justice Group (@essie4justice) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/essie4justice\/status\/1386756648337690624?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 26, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>The group has received more than $4 million in grants from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation, which, in turn, received significant funding from Quillin and Hastings.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><b>Silicon Valley De-Bug<\/b><\/p>\n<p><span>Silicon Valley De-Bug group runs a criminal justice community organizing program where families with loved ones facing incarceration try to impact the outcomes of their cases. They often assist public defenders and produce videos that aim to tell the court a fuller story of a defendant in the hopes of securing more lenient sentences.<\/span><\/p>\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"500\" data-dnt=\"true\" readability=\"7.7608695652174\">\n<p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">Stay informed on <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/AB1509?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#AB1509<\/a> by saving this link: <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/kzPZKTXmlg\">https:\/\/t.co\/kzPZKTXmlg<\/a> &#038; help raise awareness about the bill. Reach out to your Legislator, find them at <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/odh6JJ0l6A\">https:\/\/t.co\/odh6JJ0l6A<\/a> and ask them to support AB 1509. We will only be successful if everyone comes together. <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/hashtag\/SupportAB1509?src=hash&#038;ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">#SupportAB1509<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/dzEqbKwr2j\">https:\/\/t.co\/dzEqbKwr2j<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/9mNSL2p7DF\">pic.twitter.com\/9mNSL2p7DF<\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u2014 SV De-Bug (@svdebug) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/svdebug\/status\/1386755628530642945?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">April 26, 2021<\/a><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span>Its Twitter account has <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/svdebug\/status\/1323751850617626624\"><span>referenced<\/span><\/a><span> \u201cour movement to decarcerate and abolish jails.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>The nonprofit has received financial support from the Silicon Valley Community Foundation and George Soros\u2019 Open Society Institute.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>\u201cGun enhancements add years to loved ones\u2019 sentences, are often used as a plea bargaining tool, and have no real correlation to public safety,\u201d the group said in a statement. \u201cWe\u2019ve seen dozens of families bear the burden of excessive sentences that don\u2019t lead to real rehabilitation.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><i><span>The Daily Wire is one of America\u2019s fastest-growing conservative media companies and counter-cultural outlets for news, opinion, and entertainment. Get inside access to The Daily Wire by becoming a<\/span><\/i> <a href=\"https:\/\/www.dailywire.com\/subscribe\"><i><span>member<\/span><\/i><\/a><i><span>.<\/span><\/i><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>A California state assembly committee gave its stamp of approval on April 27 to legislation that would significantly soften sentences for people convicted of some firearm offenses, with proponents saying &#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":2277536,"comment_status":"close","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Gun-Crimes.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"California May Soften Gun Crime Laws, Citing Impact On People Of Color","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-481578","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/05\/Gun-Crimes.jpg?w=1200&h=800&ixlib=react-9.0.3","fifu_image_alt":"California May Soften Gun Crime Laws, Citing Impact On People Of Color","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/481578","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=481578"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/481578\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2277536"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=481578"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=481578"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=481578"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}